D ear Friends,

This month, we shall be mostly hearing sermons about hymns. Highlights will include reflections on favourite hymns from members of the congregation in both our parishes.

Hymns are the churches’ hidden treasure, the poetry and musical prayers of many generations. Their words and music have a power to sway us at whatever level we are ready for. Who can fail to be moved by the singing of ‘Abide with me’ at a football match and who can help also thinking of funerals at which they’ve heard it sung? To this day I find it hard to sing ‘Amazing Grace’, because the words carry me back to the little chapel on a Welsh hillside in which I said goodbye to my Gramps back in 1984. Can you remember what hymns you sang at your wedding? Or when you were a little child at school? Have you a favourite hymn which moves you, heart and soul? Well you’re in good company. A great saint once said, ‘anyone who sings, prays twice’. I.E., once with the words, and again through the music. Some things, and the love of God is one of them, can be too deep to be put into words alone.